I walked over to the window in my new room, the room right next to Hyaku's. This room was about the same size as my previous one, but more elaborate. The walls were decorated more intricately. The curtains were made of lace and complimented the room rather well. The bed was bigger and had a canopy. There was a huge walk in closet filled with beautiful dresses and kimonos.
The view out the window was over a lovely garden. I could see Hana out there, looking for herbs and medicinal plants most likely. I wondered how long it would be before I was as good as her. I knew it would be a long while, that was for sure. For a fleeting, brief moment, I wondered if Hyaku would praise me when I became that good.
I shook my head, pushing those thoughts out of my head. I had not been praised since before my parents died by the demons. Nothing would change; I was just this huge, human burden to Hyaku and Koori and Hana. I wasn't a quick learner, I had no special abilities. I couldn't even read.
I opened the window and climbed out, dropping gracefully to my feet. I walked into the garden, away from where Hana was sitting. I found the cherry blossom tree and climbed onto the tallest branch I could reach. The stars were always my favorite part about the night. I liked to pretend I could make pictures out of them.
Sighing, I turned and saw that Hana had disappeared back inside. I laid down onto the branch, swinging my leg off the side. I began humming to myself the lullaby my mother used to sing to me when I was a child. It used to put me right to sleep.
After awhile, I began singing the words softly to myself as I warmed up my voice. As I sang more and grew more confident, I sang louder. The words just came to me, flowing freely from my memory. I only had a few memories of my mother, father, baby sister, and myself. I treasured every one.
The sad part was time. I was beginning to forget my baby sister's face. She was only three when she died. Too many years had transpired between then and now, and I wondered why life had to be so cruel to those in need. But, Hyaku taking me in might be my salvation. He had been nothing but kind to me this whole time.
I stayed where I was on that branch for a long time, singing the lullaby.
